Rail lubricator



Sept. 7, 1948. w. c. HEIDENTHAI. `2,443,670

' RAIL LUBRICATOR Filed March 17, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOIL WARREN C. HE\DENTHRL nrronNEY Sept. 7, 1948. w. c. HElDENTHAL 2,448,570

BAIL LUBRICATOR Filed March 17, 1944 f l 4 sheets-snee; 2

INVENTOR WARREN c. Hawes-rum.

ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNvENToR ATTORNEY Sept. 7, 1948. w. c. HEIDENTHAL RAIL LUBRICATOR Filed March 17, 1944 WARREN c. HEIDENTHRL Mmc( KM @M75-f Sept. 7, 1948. w. c. HEIDENTHAL RAIL LUBRICATOR WARREN C. VHEIDENTHIL BY Q ufu hq @MTM ATTORNEY PatentedA Sept. 7, 1948 perreo emr-es e* .1 @FE-"EC Claims. (01.. 1814-3.)

The Ainvention relatesin general to railroad track equipment andmorefparticularly to devices for lubricating. the flanges of.` car wheels and the.. flange-engaging. surfaces. of the rails. The invention relatesfurther to cable controlled operating lmechanism which, when actuatedlby the. passage of` rolling. stock,v operates fpumping apparatus for supplying lubricant to: the rails.

The invention fur-ther: relates to operating mechanism so. constructed and arranged: asto havel substantially constant. effective movement when. operatedbyrailWay car wheels regardless ofthe condition.: oi-.wear-s ofthe wheels. The ins ventionr further relates=to devicesfor minimizing any change. inrelationship.between operating mechanism.'4 mounted on. the track. and .operating mechanism Inounted'on.V orV within a. lubricant reservoir, spacedfsome. distance fromY the track, caused by any slight shifting. in.. the. track due to movement ofztrains or other'cases.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the track operating mechanism in-A cludes a plunger arrangement having a ramp surface engageable by the treads of car wheels. A suitable housing is provided in which said plunger slides vertically. The plunger operates a. bell crank arrangementV to which. the operating cable is connected. The .bell crank. has a cam surface so shaped that the bell rcr-ank moves a constant distance regardless of the distance through which the plunger is depressed by a small or large false flange on the Wheel. If desired, the casing which supports the plunger may have a removable cover for inserting or removing shirns between the plunger and ashoulder on the casing for controlling the uppermost position of the plunger-andthus the effective operating movement ofthe bell-crank; The casing alsornay have a suitable recess for extra shims.

According toa preferred-form of the invention, the lubricant reservoir may be located alongside the track at some Idistance therefrom so as to be substantially independent of wave movementl of the track. The reservoir contains suitable lpumps for pumping lubricant to. the applying devices .associated with the running rail for applying: lubricant to the Wheel flanges. At the top of the reservoir a.. suitable guideway is provided in which slides a shelf. Theshelf pivotally supports a: bracket which in turn supports at its reara spring assembly. The bracket journals at its front end: an operating drum around which is Wound the operating cable. This cable. has-one. endaanchoredin the spring assembly and the." other end,l extendsto thebell crank off'the. track` operating mechanism. A suitable` driving. clutch and aasuita'ble checkclutchare associated with the drum for convertingthe oscily,`

bricant pumps through a suitable chain and.l The shaft which sup-f, ports. the ydrum. and-overrunning clutchesalso;

sprocketA arrangement.

supports a yoke having a tubular portion. Aprof tecting pipe extending to the trackoperating mechanism. connects this tubular. portion through a..semi.-1'igid coupling and asimilar tubular por-.- tion cnthe plunger. casing by. asimilar coupling.

The invention also consists incertainnew. and original featuresA of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Althoughl the -novelfeatures which are believed tcbe characteristic of thisinvention will be par. ticularly-pointed out in the claimsappended hereto, the invention' itself, asfto its objects and advantages; and `the manner in-.Which` it maybe carriedeout, maybe; better understood by referring to the following description taken in corrnection with the accompanying drawings forming apart thereof, in which Fig; 1 is applan View of the section of track towhicha lubricating device according to the invention is applied;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on'the line f2--21of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the top of the reservoir;

Fig,4 ,is,a,plan section taken on the .1ine4e-4 offFig.. 3l;

Fig,.5is.avertical section on theline 5-.5..of Figa.;

Figs. 6,-.,and 'l are sectionstaken onthe. lines 5.-?8 and-Tf1 of Eig. liillustr-atingthe `overrun.-A .ning.clutches;

Fig... 8. is-averticalside view` of the plunger mechanism taken .onthe line 8.8 .of- Fig.. 2; and

Fig.. gis-a Vertical sectiontaken on the line 9-1-9 of jig.v 8'.

In .the following; description lan-d in the Claims, various detailsr will be identied byspecificl names for convenience, but they-are intended to be-as generici intheir application as :the art will permit.

Like reference chiaracterswdenote like partsin the several figures of the drawings@ Inthe. drawings accompanying and forming partyofsthis specification, certain specific disclosurecf theinventionis, made for purposesof explanation, but itwillf be understood thatthedetails; may bemodied; in: various.- respects with:

3 out departure from the broad aspect .of the in- Vention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 for general description, the running rail to which the lubrcator is applied is denoted by I5, resting on the usual ties I6 with the usual tie plates Il interposed, Secured to the inner side of the rail I are the delivery plates I8 for delivering lubricant to the wheel anges 35. The reservoir I9 comprises a tank set into the ground alongside the track so as to occupy a substantially fixed position unaffected by the movement of the rails 0r ties due to the passage of railway t-rains. The reservoir I9 houses a series of gear pumps 2e which deliver lubricant through pipes 2| to the delivery plates Secured to the running rail is a plunger assembly, including -plunger 22 which operates a bell crank lever 23 to which is secured cable 24. The cable 24 extends through the wall of the tank I9 and is wrapped several times around the drum of an unidirectional clutch assembly 25 and is connected to spring assembly 28. Both spring assembly and clutch assembly are mounted upon a pivoted and slidable bracket 29. A chain 2l connects the clutch assembly and the pumps 25, it being understood that up and down movement of plunger 22 reciprocates cable 24, driving unidirectional clutch 25, in turn unidirectionally driving the ch-ain 21 and the pumps 29. cable 24 runs through a protective pipe 23 connected to the plunger assembly and to the bracket 29 to maintain the proper relationship between these parts in a manner described more fully hereinafter.

Referring now also to Fig. 9 the lubricant applying apparatus will now be described, The head 39 of T-rail I5 is cut away, as indicated at 3|, and the delivery plates I8 are spaced from the rail by suitable gaskets or washers indicated by 32 to form a series of lubricant chambers 33 with the web 34, extending along the track. The delivery plates I8 are clamped to the running rail I5 by a series of nut and bolt assemblies indicated by 38. The several lubricant chambers 33 are supplied by branch pipes 35 supplied by the delivery pipes 2l and greaseis fed to the wheel flanges 36 through delivery slots 39.

Attention is called to Heidenthal Patent No. 2,185,810, granted January 2, 1940, for a more complete description of the lubricant applying apparatus.

Referring now also to Fig. 8, the plunger assembly will now be described. Secured to the running rail I5 is a filler plate 4I which may extend the entire length of the -applying device to reinforce the cutaway running rail, as disclosed in the above-mentioned Heidenthal Patent No. 2,185,810. The plunger assembly comprises a housing 42 made up of plate members suitably welded together. These members comprise side walls 43, bottom wall 44, top wall 46, side anges 48, front wall 60' and shelf 54. 'I'he housing 42 rests on the base 45 of the rail I 5 and is suitably bolted to the rail by nut and bolt assemblies 49. An inner plate 53 is interposed between the welded housing and the filler plate 4I and the bolts 49 pass through this plate to'complete the housing 42. Y

Strengthening webs 50 connect the side walls 43 and side anges 48. A shim cover 55 having a Yhold-downv ilange 56 and a depending abutment 51 gives access to adjustable shims 'I5 and houses spare shims 59 in a manner explained The hereinafter more in detail. A hold-down screw 58 passes through ange 56 into shelf 54 for removably holding the shim cover 55 in position. A tube 5I is welded to the lower end of front wall 53 to support the protecting pipe 23, as described more in detail hereinafter.

The plunger 22 comprises a head 69 having cam or ramp surfaces 'I0 and 'EI to accommodate trains passing in either directionl The head 59 passes through an opening 41 in top wall 45. lThe plunger is provided with guide flanges 65 viitting in vertical grooves 64 in the side walls 4S. The plunger has a shoulder 'I4 between which and top wall 4G the shims 'l5 are positioned.

The plunger 22 has a spring recess 66 containing a helical spring 61 centered upon a boss 68 on bottom wall 44. The plunger has a pair of ears 'I6 through which a pin 'II is passed. A roller I8 is journaled on pin TI.

A car wheel, having a ange 35 and a tread 3l, is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 9, to illustrate the position of the flange with respect to the delivery slots 39 and the position of the tread 3l with respect to the plunger 22.

The plunger 22 reciprocates vertically, being forced down by the passagel of wheels on the running rail I5 and being urged upwardly by the return spring 5l. This reciprocating movement operates, under pull of cable 24, a bell crank lever 23 journaled on a bolt 3| passing through the side walls 43 and acting as a shaft for the bell crank lever, The lever has a depending arm 32 having a concentric groove 83 on which rides the cable 24, the cable being suitably anchored in a recess 84. The circular shape of curve 82 provides an effective operating arm of constant radius throughout the reciprocating movement of the bell crank lever 23.

rlhe bell crank lever has an upper arm having cam surfaces 85 and el cooperating with the roller i9. rhe cam surface el is so shaped that downward movement of the plunger 22 from 'the position shown, i. e. while roller 'I3 is riding on surface 3l, causes the bell crank, under pull of cable 24, to move clockwise in Fig. 9. The cam surface 83 is so shaped that furt er downward movement of the plunger 22, i. e. while roller i8 is riding on surface 33 causes no further movement of the bell crank 23. f The cam surface 3l thus constitutes a fall which permits movement of the bell crank 23 and the surface se constitutes a dwell which permits no movemont oi bell crank 23. The dot and dash lines in Fig. 9 represent the position of the arm 85 when the plunger is depressed suliciently to cause roller 'I8 to ride on dwell 86.

It will thus be seen that the peculiar relationship between the plunger 22 and bell crank 23 results in -a constant movement of the bell crank regardless of the amount lof downward movement of the plunger 22 so long as the first stage downward movement of the plunger 22 carries it at least to a position Where the roller I3 begins te operate upon the dwell 8S. The wheel indicated in Fig. 9 represents a new wheel and its tread Cil is sumcient to move the plunger 22 downwardly at least through this minimum operating distance. As the wheel wears and a false flange forms at 37a upon the tread 3l, the plunger 22 will be pushed downwardly to a greater extent depending upon the size of the false flange. But such additional operating movement of the plunger 2i! will not result in any corresponding 'additional operating movement of bell crank 23. During the-freturrror-upward movement-of tli'eplunger l22;' movement of -"roller produces counter-clockwise movement ci bell voirJ Iecomprises atank-havinga: casing Sii-set in the-ground-'alongside-the track so as to be independent oial-l movement 'of the tracka Thecasing" S- has a removable-cover- 8.9'- and houses.

with the delivery pipes 2i through flexible hose. couplings 9i; rihere is a-separate-pump-- Zo foreach oitheY four delivery-'pipes 2l. The drive shaft of-thev end pump til has sprocket driven by a chain 2i' as describedmore-in detail hereirrafter. For a more detailed disclosure of` the pumps. but not the drive thereforei attention iscalled- Vto the above` mentioned Heiden-thai patent. The pumps 22B-arc driven by the plunger 22 through a special shelf mechanism including overrun clutch 25M-mounted inthe top of the tank 881 T-hismech-'anism comprises spaced guides 92 extending aci'ossthe tank from front to rear and secured to the walls by bolts 93. Slidable in these guides `is aslidefshelf 0r plate sii.' Mountedupon slide plate isthe swivel bracket Ztlhaving abase 95`v and -a projecting tonguemember 95 adapted to slideundera hold-down lug s? mountediupon theslidefplate 54; A swivelbolt Sit through base 9-5- and slideplate The swivel bolt 98 anr.l-`ho-ld'dovi rn lugs-i are arranged topermit a; lateral swivellingmovement lof bracket 2 9-y about pivot Ssas a' center, thisV action being explained moreV in-detail hereinafter;-

The bracket g'iurther comprises apost 99 supporting thespring assembly 25'.- Assembly 25v comprises a sleeve le@ secured to post 'inwhich slides -aplug oir-plunger member iti hva-ving a recess illfin which is anchoredr the endof cable Elie A helical spring` IESiis center-eden plug- IIH and operates against` a5 shoulder Iill'A on sleeveY Il having an opening*VA through which cable 24- passes. It will `beunderstood that the spr-ing Hit.

normally-helps hold Athe cable 2li? in tension The bracket isupportsa swivel hea-dcon-- struction comprising splacedbearings itil rising from plate -Qr` and: through which a. shaft i081 passes.. Shaft.- ISf', supports overnunmng drive clutch and overrunnin'g. check clutch Ill); a yoke IIihavng'v arms H2; and aY sprocket H3;

The; pump.; drive chain'l rides. on .sprocket I I3..

'll-he drive. clutch25" and the check clutch IIB may: be of: any 'desirablvtype of overrunning clutchandmaybe similarin construction. The drive. clutch` .fcomprisesan outer. ring.. |09 having. a gnoovedperiphery:` around. which 1 several,

agen-al. core I 22;. keyed` to shaft lilik-and.havingl rolls: and marines @Q1-responding :to the-rolls.- H 5j and spr-ings; IIS-"ot clutch 25.' Theouterring: I la has spaced lugs between' which is `disposed, a set screw I2-I--th1teaded intothe adjacent bearing I B1.

to hold the overrunning clutch casing stationary-q It will bef understood `that'the driveiclutch 25;

and check clutch I It operate-similarly but oppositely; For-example; when the cable 2:3 rotates the drive clutch 2-5 inthe direction of arrow-A in Fig.- g'the-clutch drives the-shaft m8. Upon the-return strokeof-cable 2e, the ring Ilovern runs-core IILI.` When shaft I--is rotating in the direction'of-arrow A, check clutch Ilis overrunning,` while-when drive clutch 25 is over-- running, the check clutch Il@ keeps shaft IBB: from retrograde-rotation.

The angular and linear positions of the bracket 29' are determined by movement of the running rail I5 acting through the protecting pipe 28 The yoke- II I has a tubular extension |23 connected to Vpipe 28 through a semi-rigid coupling |24 which may-comprise a short length of relatively stiff rubberized hose. The other end of pipe 28 is connected to pipe S-i on plunger heus-- ing 42 yby a similar semi-rigid coupling IZB. The

coupling ii is clamped to its respective pipes- Esand 'Si by bar-.dclamps I. Similar band clamps-are usedfor clamping coupling` IZA-to Vits pipe members 23" and 28 :but are omitted.v for sake of clearness.

The protecting pipe 231 passes through an en" larged opening I25 in the wall of casing rwhichA is sealed by a leather-boot 128.1 Boot E28 has a restricted end Ell@ suitably bound, to the pipe 28- an-:l an, enlarged end ISiIsuitably bound to a co1- lar l3i secured to the tank around the opening- I-zei In some cases itmay be desirable to lengthentheramp or cam surface 'ill and ii by providing laterallyextending flanges (not shown) extending lengthwiseofthe running rail on thehead 59- forming inV eiectamushroom type head for the. plunger. Also if desired, the adjusting shimsi may be omitted and adjustment of the plunger4 movement rnaybef obtainedv `byI inserting shims between the'bottom wall 44 of the plunger housing and the base-45' of the running rail I5 thereu by raising or lowering the entire housing.

Operation and, advantages It will-1 :be understood that, normally with the plunger 22 in upper position, the reservoir spring ISB is compressed vwhile the plunger spring 61 is expanded. However, therelative forces exerted. by-thespringsis such thatiplunger spring 6l pre.- dominates, holding reservoir spring Itis-in corn pression by cable 24. As the Wheel tread 3'! engagesplungerheadg; the engagement is eased byrthecamrned surfacesliland iI which also ease,4 the release of theplunger as thewheel disengages. theplunger.4 As the wheel depressies plunger 22,v compressing spring ETI, the bellV crank lever 23.' movesfin suchl way as to permit theexible cable 24:.;to...be taken, up. byexpansion` of the reservo-ir spr-ingl |03.. This movement` rotates the outer rin-g` laof the -driveiclutch 255m such direction; as-to cause theclutch to retract or overrun and toimpart no movement to the gear pumps Zou As-therwheeltread` 31 leaves the-plunger head, the plunger spring 61 moves the plunger upwardly, which pullsthe cable 24: out oithe-reser* Voir against theiorce of springlt, imparting rotationto the ring` |09 of drive clutch 25-in such di-A rection as to drive the gearpumps 25;

It :will :be understood that,y if desired, the. action of unidirectional..driveclutch 25. and check` clutch.

I I may be reversed so as to permit pumping action upon downward movement of the plunger 22 with correspondingly no pumping when the plunger moves upwardly, but it is preferred in most cases to provide pumping action only with upward movement of the plunger.

The cable 2li may be of any flexible material, such as steel or bronze, and is wrapped around the drum of clutch 25 several times with sufficient tension to prevent slipping, both when the clutch 25 is engaged for driving the pumps and when the clutch is free-wheeling. The two springs 61 and |03 maintain tension on the cable 24 at all times.

The peculiar relationship between the plunger and the fall and dwell surfaces on the bell crank provides a constant throw or amplitude of `movement of the bell crank, regardless of the displacement of the plunger caused by the varying sizes of false flanges. Thus the cable movement is the same with a new wheel having no false flange as with a badly worn wheel with a large false flange. This assists in maintaining uniformity of lubricant feed. At the same time the rate of lubricant feed may be adjusted by changing the shims 'l5 between the plunger shoulder and the top wall. The shims determine the upper position of the plunger roller 'f8 on the actuating cam surface 81. For any given wheel, the fewer the shims, the -greater the plunger movement, and viceversa.

The adjustable shelf construction assists in maintaining the cable adjustment constant, regardless of vertical movement of the track, or horizontal movement of the track, either in the direction of the track or sidewise of the track. The pivotal connection between the yoke l l l and the shaft m8 permits the vertical movement of the track; the swivel bolt 98 permits longitudinal movement of the track; and the sliding plate 94 permits lateral movement of the track, all without disturbing the relationship between plunger spring 61, reservoir spring N3, and cable 24. The slight corresponding Imovement of upper drive shaft Hi8 'with respect to the xedly positioned pump shafts of the pumps 2li is taken care of by the length of drive chain 21. The semi-rigid couplings l2@ and 25 are suiciently rigid to maintain proper relationship between the parts and protect the reservoir equipment from vibrations caused by moving trains. The coupling 126 at the plunger mechanism also allows the slight angular or universai movement of the protecting pipe 28 with respect to the track caused by longitudinal or vertical movement of the track.

The reciprocating operating parts driven 'by the car wheels are light in weight, thereby reducing inertia, and have no wearable joints to introduce lost motion. Any wear in parts located between the main springs 6l and |03 is immediately taken up by these springs. The unidirectional clutches are especially efficient, substantially instantly transmitting force. Lost motion in the chain and sprockets may be kept very small and, in any event, the eiect of any lost motion in these parts is minimized since these parts have no reciprocating motion but move unidirectionally. i

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rail lubricator, a plunger mechanism comprising a filler plate adapted to t the web of a running rail, a housing comprising side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall connecting said side walls and forming a housing recess, side anges connected to said side walls and adapted to be bolted to the running rail, an inner wall secured to said side flanges, said side walls having vertical guideways, a plunger member having portions riding on said guideways and having a wheel contacting head, said plunger having a recess in its underside, a helical spring in said recess resting on said bottom wall for urging said plunger upwardly, said plunger having a shoulder, shims between said shoulder and said top wall, a shelf connecting said side walls and providing an opening for access to said shims, a cover for said opening, a roller journaled on said plunger, a bell crank lever journaled between said side walls and having a depending arm with a concentric wire-receiving way adapted to support an operating wire extending to a lubricant supply, said bell crank having an upper arm having a cam surface engaging said roller, said cam surface having an upper fall so shaped as to cause said bell crank to rock with rst stage downward movement of said plunger and a lower dwell so shaped to impart no additional movement to said bell crank with further downward movement of said plunger.

2. In a rail lubricator, a plunger mechanism comprising a ller plate adapted to fit the web of a running rail, a housing comprising side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall connecting said side walls and forming a housing recess, side flanges connected to the inner ends of said side walls and adapted to be bolted to the running rail, an inner wall adjacent said Vfiller plate and secured to said side flanges, said side walls having recessed vertical guideways, a plunger member having flanges riding in said guideways and having a beveled wheel-contacting head, said plunger having a recess in its underside, a helical spring in said recess centered on said bottom wall for urging said plunger upwardly, said plunger having a shoulder, shims between said shoulder and said top wall, a shelf connecting said side walls, a cover having a top wall with a depending inner wall forming an internal recess and resting on said shelf, said recess being adapted to hold spare shims, a roller journaled on said plunger, a bell crank lever journaled between said side walls and having a depending arm with a concentric wire-receiving groove adapted to support an operating wire extending to a lubricant supply, said bell crank having an upper arm having a cam surface engaging said roller, said cam surface having an upper fall so shaped as to cause said bell crank to rock with rst stage downward movement of said plunger and a lower dwell so shaped to impart no additional movement to said bell crank with further downward movement of said plunger.

3. In a rail lubricator, a track having a lubricant-applying device, an operating member, a support for said operating member secured to sai-d track, a lubricant reservoir spaced from the track and independent of movement thereof, said reservoir comprising a tank, pumping mechanism, a guideway, a shelf slidable in said guideway, a bracket mounted on said shelf, pivot means connecting said bracket and said shelf, a spring assembly supported by said bracket, a drive assembly supported by said bracket, said drive assemvlo-ly including supporting bearings on said bracket, a shaft journaled in said bearings, a drive .fdevice on said shaft-and connected lto said pumping mechanism,:a drumfjournaled on said shaft, an overrunning clutch operating between said drum and shaft, a'check clutch .having a casn 4ing fixed to an adjacent stationary part and a movable lmember secured to said shaft; a protecting pipe having pivot connection with said shaft and having a universal connection with said operating member sup-port; a cable connected to .slidable in said guideway, a bracket mounted on said shelf, pivot means connecting said bracket and said shelf, a spring assembly supported by said bracket, a drive assembly supported by said bracket, said drive assembly including supporting .bearings on said bracket, a shaft journaled in said bearings, a sprocket on said shaft, a chain connecting said sprocket and saidpumping mechanism, a drum journaled on said shaft, an overrunning .drive clutch operating between said drum and shaft, a check clutch having e, casing fixed to an adjacent bearing and a movable member secured to said shaft, a yoke engaging said shaft; a protecting pipe connected to said yoke vand having a semirigid connection with said operating member support; a cable connected to said operating member, passing through said pipe, wrapped around said drum and connected to said spring assembly, and conduit means connecting said pumping mechanism and applying device.

5. In a rail lubricator, a ruiming rail having a lubricant-applying device, an operating member, an operating support for said operating member secured to said running rail, a lubricant reservoir anchored in the ground alongside the track and independent of movement thereof, said reservoir comprising a tank, pumping mechanism in the bottom of said tank, spaced guides extending across the top of said tank, a plate having parts slida'ble in said guides, a bracket mounted on said plate, pivot means connecting said bracket and plate at the forward end thereof, a hold down iiange on said plate at the rear end thereof, a lug on said bracket under said ange, a spring assembly supported at the rear,

side of said bracket, a drive assembly at the forward side of said bracket, said drive assembly including supporting bearings on said bracket, a shaft journaled in said bearings, a sprocket overhung on said shaft, a chain connecting said sprocket and said pumping mechanism, a drum journaled on said shaft between said bearings, an overrunning clutch within said drum and operating on said shaft, a check clutch on the outer side of one of said bearings having a casing fixed to the adjacent bearing and a movable member secured to said shaft, a yoke having bearings engaging said shaft and having a tube; a protecting pipe having a semi-rigid connection with said tube and a similar connection with said operating support, a cable connected to said opere tween said pumping mechanism .and said applydevice, a transfer base, means `movably mounting said base in said tank, a spacing device .con-

Ynected to said track and to said base, said spac- .ing device being substantially non-yielding. in va direction lengthwise of itself so as to cause said base to shift with shift of said track, a transfer drive device on said base, rst drive mechanism extending between said operating member and said transfer drivedevice, and seconddrive mechanism between said transfer drive .device and said pumping mechanism.

7. In a rail lubricator, a track includinga running rail having a 'lubricant-applying device, .a reciprocable wheel-contacting =operating member, a support for said operating member secured to said running rail, a lubricant tank spaced from said track and supported so Vas toibe independent of movement thereof, pumping'mechanism in 'the bottom of said tank, conduit means between .pumping mechanism and Vsaid applyingrdevice, a transfer base, means movably mounting said vbase in the top of said tank, aprotecting device connected to said running rail and to said base, said protecting device being substantially non-yielding in a direction lengthwise of itself so as to cause said base to shift with shift of said running rail7 an overrunning drive device journaled on said base, a reciprocable drive mechanism protected by said protecting device and extending between said operating member and said overrunning drive device, and uni-directional driving mechanism extending between said overrunning drive device and said pumping mechanism.

8. In a track lubricator, a track having a lubricant-applying device, a lubricant tank, delivery apparatus for transferring lubricant from said tank to said applying device, a reciprocable plunger member mounted on said track to be engaged by wheels running on said track, a drive member operatively connected to said delivery apparatus, an operating mechanism between said operating member and said driven member for driving the latter, said operating mechanism including a cam element and a roller in engagement therewith, said cam element being Inovabic with said driven element, said roller being -aled on said plunger member, said cam elenient having a fall portion and a dwell portion, said roller moving along said fall portion with the rst part of movement of said plunger member caused by a car wheel, said roller moving along said dwell portion with further movement of said plunger member beyond said rst part movement, whereby said operating mech- 'mism transmits said first part movement of said nger member to said driven member and does not transmit said further movement of said plunger member to said driven member.

9. In a track lubricator, a track having a lubricant-applying device, a lubricant tank, delivery apparatus for transferring lubricant from said tank to said .applying device, a reciprocable operating member mounted on said track to be engaged by wheels running on said track, a driven member operatively connected to said delivery apparatus, an operating mechanism between said operating member and said driven member for driving the latter, said operating mechanism including a cam element and a follower element, one of which is connected to move with said operating'member and the other of which is connected to move with said driven member, said cam element having a fall portion and a, dwell portion, said follower element moving along said fall portion with the rst part of movement of said operating member caused by a car wheel, said follower element moving along said dwell portion with further movement of said operating member beyond said rst part movement, whereby said operating mechanism transmits said first part movement of said operating member to said driven member and does not transmit said further movement of said operating member to said driven member.

10. In a track lubricator, a track having a lubricant-applying device, a lubricant tank, delivery apparatus includingA a pump for transferring lubricant from said tank to said applying device, a guide member on said track, a reciprocable plunger membermounted in said guide member in position to be moved downwardly by the false flanges of wheels running on said track, spring meansheld by said guide member to urge said plunger member upwardly, an overrunning clutch operatively connected to said pump, an operating mechanism acting between said plunger member and said overrunning clutch for driving the latter, said operating mechanism mcluding a cam element and a follower element, one of which is connected to move With said plunger member and the other of which is connected to move with said overrunning clutch, spring means retracting said overrunning clutch and holding said cam element and follower element in engagement, said cam element having a fall portion and a dwell portion, said follower element moving along said fall portion with the first stage of downward movement of said plunger member, said follower element moving along said dwell portion with the second stage of downward movement of said plunger member, whereby said operating mechanism transmits said first stage movement of said plunger to said overrunning clutch and does not transmit said second stage movement of said plunger to said overrunning clutch, said overrunning clutch having its driving action in such direction as to cause said pump to deliver lubricant with upward movement of said plunger.

WARREN C. HEIDENTHAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,953,423 McRee Apr. 3, 1934 2,223,714 Bates Dec. 3, 1940 2,237,312 Overmier Apr. 8, 1941 2,296,365 Moore Sept. 22, 1942 2,349,259 Fuller May 23, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 490,195 Germany Jan. 24, 1930 

